So...you went to the show...what did you think?....what did you buy? Yeh.....so I'm reaching for a reason to post! :)

Being a newbie to this fly fishing stuff I became quite bewildered at all the stuff I knew nothing about!

Man! Those flats boats were awesome!!

Said "hi" to Enrico Puglisi...he was setting up, then disappeared...struck me as a "stuffed shirt".

Wanted to buy some hackle to try to tie a few deceivers...but didn't. Why? I don't know.

Stopped at the CCA booth, talked to Dave Rimmer, bought a CCA hat.

Let's see, my purchases were the CCA hat, a 3 year subscription to Flyfishing in Saltwaters magazine, a George Roberts casting video, and a Ken Vanderlaske False Albie pin.

I know...boring...but I had no plans for a new rod or reel. Anyone else care to comment?

Pete

01-21-2000 05:09 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Doug,

Well I'll let you know tomorrow after I get back. Sounds like you didn't waste any time getting over to Marlboro though [img]http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Happy.gif" border="0" align="middle">

I am excited to go, would like to get there early tomorrow and get a chance to cast a couple of rods that are on my wish list (which my wife also sometimes referred to as "when he** freezes over" list since I just recently bought a new one...<img src="http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Sad.gif[/img]). I'll probably just satisfy myself psycologically with my buddies purchases, as that sometimes helps.

I'd imagine that with the increase in popularity of SW fishing the majority of the outfitters and guides were focusing on stripers and blues and the associated gear. Quite a switch from when it was dominated by freshwater gear and guides.

Thanks for the report,

Pete

Pete

01-22-2000 04:41 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Doug,

Went to the show this morning and through a good chunk of this afternoon. Thought the attendance was down from other years, but for me that isn't really a bad thing - if I was a retailer I wouldn't be as happy. I got to meet a few people that I haven't had the opportunity to introduce myself to. Thank you Juro and it was nice to meet Dave Rimmer from CCA. It would have been better to have the seminars in the same building as the show, as I would have been more inclined to check them out (it was cold on that walk...whinehttp://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Happy.gif), but that is a limitation of the set-up. No REC components, too bad as I was looking for a rod tube and to check out there reel seats. Also no Orvis, which was kind of a surprise, but I'm sure not heartbreaking to a lot of people. With the proliferation of breathable waders there were not too many waders on display (neoprene either). Another item that we thought would sell okay were T-shirts with good fish prints on them and things like ties, polo shirts, etc. - I was hoping to score a tie with a fish theme for the occasional presentation.

My buddy Chris and I got to check out a number of rods (all 8wts), which was definitely the highlight of the show for us. It is nice to have the opportunity to cast a variety of manufacturers offerings, something that isn't easily accomplished at just one shop. I was really impressed with the Diamondback Backwater for a SW rod. It fit my average casting ability and I felt it could boom the line out there, something that I feel is a plus in blind casting for stripers, maybe not ideal for casting to nearby bonefish though. Another factor going for it was the price, approximately 40% of the SAGE's, T&T's, Scotts. The SAGE RPLXi 3pc was a dream to cast and was finished nicely, it was a beauty, but a little steep at around $550. The legend Ultra 3pc 8wt was great, offering great performance at an equally great price - it came in 2nd place to the other two (with them really being 1a & 1b), but that may have been do to the line we had it strung up with (60' starter line).

Not to brown-nose, but Bob D and the guys at Blue Northern were great. Bob took the time to find the Diamondback in the pile of rods and let me know when I came walking by later in the day. Thanks for the effort.

I only bought a net, but left with a burning "need" for another rod. I now have a much better idea of what matches up well with that "need"

Pete

ssully

01-22-2000 09:54 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

1/22 Marlboro FF Show Report

Ah! It feels somewhat gratifying to post something with report in the title.

We (friend Mike and myself) made it to the show about noon and did a walkabout of the whole setup. I saw Bob D and Juro working the BN booth. I spoke with Bob for awhile but I didn't get a chance to talk to Juro. Hey Juro are you part whitetail? You vanished right in front of my eyes. [img]http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle">By this time it was about 1:00 and we decided to head up to the Main Lobby of the Plaza and see who was there from the RT crowd.

Once in the bar we were greeted by Mark Cahill, who graciously initiated the introductions. Thanks Mark. Please forgive me if I forget anyone, as I didn't catch everyone's names. Besides Mark I did have the pleasure of breaking bread with and a couple of suds. Marvin, Greg, Thorne, Larry, Steve, and John (?).

After lunch we headed back to the exhibits to buy the tying stuff I had (and some more) that was on our lists. By the time we were done I realized I missed the 3:30 seminar I wanted to attend. It was just as well the walk between the two buildings was nasty with the -30 wind chill in effect. In all fairness there was a shuttle running but I was to impatient to wait for it. It only looked like a short walk…BRRR!

We stopped by the casting pool to watch a couple of guys casting who were very good. My friend Mike commented, "I wonder if they can do that in a 20kt wind too"? <img src="http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif[/img] Good point. It made me feel better.

The J.Austin Forbes booth had these micro fly reels. One was set up on a 2' fly rod with dental floss backing. I never saw a zero weight before. Cute but kind of an expensive conversation piece.

The crowds were light while we were there which wasn't a bad thing. Unless you are a dealer I guess.

Lastly I left with dreams of towing that 16' Maritime skiff with the 50HP Honda home. There's nothing wrong with dreaming.

juro

01-23-2000 09:58 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Well after two days on my feet at the show, I'd have to say it was a very good show. The enthusiasm was high and I met more of my reel-time cyber-freinds than ever. I worked with our own Bob Desplaines and new partner John Middleton in the <!--http--><a href="http://www.bluenorthern.com" target="_blank">Blue Northern</a><!--url--> booth.

One note: people asked a lot about stripers101.com... it was hosed by my last web host and is being reconstructed in this site. The <!--http--><a href="http://216.71.206.188/rhodyfest/rhodyjourn-main.htm" target="_blank">Rhody fest</a><!--url--> images are up, Boneclave and Outer Limits are next. *** Information about the NESWFF Fly Swap will be posted over the next few days - I will get inventory of arrivals from Bob Desplaines ***

Anyway, back to the shue...

Many acquaintances dating back to my Seattle days were rekindled. Brian Sommers, a pro staff guy formerly of Kaufmann's Streamborn in Seattle is now doing some wild world expeditions from Christmas Island to Alaska to the Amazon. We will be hearing more from him very soon. I also met a cyber friend of several years whom I had never met in person before. Jim McGrath is now head guide for Iliaska Lodge, clearly one of the finest destinations in the world. We will be hearing more about that soon as well.

I also had the repeated pleasure of meeting some of the finest artisans in the flyfishing industry, and am proud to annouce that we will feature their work on the Forum.

One of the most important things I did was that I became a member of the <!--http--><a href="http://www.amff.com" target="_blank">American Museum of Flyfishing</a><!--url-->. Although their website does not reveal their depth to non-member browsers, they do offer some idea of what they have in their rich historical archives and collections of classic items on the site. We talked about cross-linking our sites, which I truly hope happens. Their quarterly newsletter alone is worth the fee, but they provided a large poster of antique salmon flies and gear that personifies my view of the legacy of salmon fishing and will be the main decor in my office. They also included a flybox, some leather bookmarks, stickers, and all that - but the materials things couldn't compare to the images of Baden-Powell or even Bing Crosby flyfishing in classic American waters.

On a local note, Phil Castleman and Ray Capobianco of Castle Arms offered some great photos of field testing the new Heritage rods. I'll be scanning them in ASAP, you'll love them!

I've got some absolutely fantastic stuff to put together and can't wait to share it all with you... now I need to get started...

Stay tuned!

Juro

flyfisher

01-28-2000 04:05 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Great Board Juro! Good to meet you at the show! I bought a classic Teton Tioga 5 weight reel, and man it is the prettiest reel I have ever seen. Should be for $205 :)

juro

01-28-2000 08:54 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

flyfisher wrote:

&gt; Great Board Juro! Good to meet you at the show! I bought
&gt; a classic Teton Tioga 5 weight reel, and man it is the
&gt; prettiest reel I have ever seen. Should be for $205 :)

It's amazing what Tioga can do with anodized finishes. great choice, and the drag will let you take on the gnarliest beasts that swim.

great to have you on board!

mitch

01-29-2000 05:21 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Marlboro was my first FF show so I was kind of leery about buying anything. I really wanted a new bobbin and a good pair of scissors. I walked out with one of Norm Norlander's automatic bobbins after watching his demonstration with his vise (pretty slick). I just go my Barracuda back from the Dyna-King shop yesterday and will post later based on the results of both the vise and bobbin.
Had a chance to cast Winston's BL5 and XTR both in a 9-wt. Found that the BL5 is too soft and the XTR was too stiff for me.
As for the show, I imagined a casting pond that held more than 3 casters, and the beams in the overhead were a pain to deal with (I'm not a great caster, especially 3 months without picking up a rod).
I'm still amazed that companies/groups charge so much for their ball caps. It stands to reason that you are advertising their company on your head...and you're paying ~$20 to do this??? Why aren't caps standard issue with the rod or reel? "Thanks for paying the inflated price for our rod; here's a little something to tell everyone you're fishing with a SAGE fly rod" or "Here's a cap so that other people on the water know you buy at Walter's Fly Shop". My sarcastic reasoning does not apply to groups such as CCA, TU, etc, where the proceedes go back into the group, which go back into preserving fishing for my kids.

juro

01-29-2000 06:01 PM

RE:Marlboro Show....thoughts & what did you buy?

Hats? Might be something there.

The pisces symbol is pretty much the logo for now, with some lettering... I'll have to work out a layout. Either flyfishing above and forum below, or both below in a nice layout. The hats will of course be for cost of getting them done... unless we decide to buy a kid a fly outfit or something with an extra $5 per cap or something.

Something to think about... any champions? I'll provide the emblem options for voting if anyone's interested. I'm too slow http://216.71.206.188/images/flytalk/Wilk.gif on getting them made, I'd appreciate it if someone would take the lead on ordering details.